Bowling Green, Kentucky
Living in Bowling Green, Kentucky is about 12% cheaper than the national average, with a cost of living index of 88 (US = 100). Typical rent is $1,215 a month, 37% below the national figure of $1,932, and regular gas costs $3.72 a gallon versus $3.98 nationally as of November 11, 2026. Rent, gas, groceries, electricity and car insurance take about 42% of the area's $61,318 median household income.
Key Numbers
Gas (Regular)
$3.72
National: $3.98
Avg Rent (All)
$1,215
National: $1,932
Grocery Inflation
1.77%
Year-over-year
Fast Food Avg
$12.79
Combo meal
Electricity
13.8¢
per kWh · ~$124/mo
Car Insurance
$177/mo
$2,124/yr
Median Household Income
$61,318
42.3% goes to essentials
Car Insurance
Avg $2,124 in Bowling Green. Compare rates:
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Some prices above are regional estimates. Submit a receipt from a local store to help us show what Bowling Green residents actually pay.
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Avg rent $1,215/mo in Bowling Green. Browse listings:
Grocery Prices
Grocery Prices — 2000 to Present
National BLS averages · submit local prices below ↓
Eggs (dozen)
Bird flu volatility
$0.97 in 2000 → $2.32 BLS avg
$1.99 @ Kroger - ByPass - Riverside (Nov 2026)
Milk (gallon)
$2.79 in 2000 → $4.10 BLS avg
$3.39 @ Kroger - ByPass - Riverside (Nov 2026)
Ground Beef (lb)
$1.48 in 2000 → $6.75 BLS avg
$6.99 @ Kroger - ByPass - Riverside (Nov 2026)
Bread (loaf)
$0.91 in 2000 → $1.86 BLS avg
$4.79 @ Kroger - ByPass - Riverside (Nov 2026)
Chicken Breast (lb)
$1.06 in 2000 → $2.03 BLS avg
$4.00 @ Kroger - ByPass - Riverside (Nov 2026)
Butter (lb)
$3.98 BLS avg
$4.89 @ Kroger - ByPass - Riverside (Nov 2026)
Bacon (lb)
$2.75 in 2000 → $6.69 BLS avg
$5.72 @ Kroger - ByPass - Riverside (Nov 2026)
Cheddar Cheese (lb)
$3.84 in 2000 → $6.13 BLS avg
$4.00 @ Kroger - ByPass - Riverside (Nov 2026)
Pasta (lb)
$0.88 in 2000 → $1.38 BLS avg
$1.67 @ Kroger - ByPass - Riverside (Nov 2026)
Rice (5 lb)
$2.50 in 2000 → $5.50 BLS avg
$4.72 @ Kroger - ByPass - Riverside (Nov 2026)
Coffee (12 oz)
$2.65 in 2000 → $6.94 BLS avg
$9.19 @ Kroger - ByPass - Riverside (Nov 2026)
Orange Juice (64 oz)
Citrus shortage
$5.42 estimate
Potatoes (5 lb)
$1.96 in 2000 → $4.95 BLS avg
$3.79 @ Kroger - ByPass - Riverside (Nov 2026)
Apples (3 lb)
$5.20 estimate
$3.99 @ Kroger - ByPass - Riverside (Nov 2026)
Tomatoes (lb)
$1.44 in 2000 → $2.08 BLS avg
$1.79 @ Kroger - ByPass - Riverside (Nov 2026)
Lettuce (head)
$0.75 in 2000 → $1.96 BLS avg
$3.49 @ Kroger - ByPass - Riverside (Nov 2026)
Cooking Oil (48 oz)
$7.76 estimate
$3.79 @ Kroger - ByPass - Riverside (Nov 2026)
Yogurt (32 oz)
$4.94 estimate
$5.99 @ Kroger - ByPass - Riverside (Nov 2026)
Cereal (family size)
$6.20 estimate
$5.00 @ Kroger - ByPass - Riverside (Nov 2026)
Frozen Pizza
$8.65 estimate
$5.99 @ Kroger - ByPass - Riverside (Nov 2026)
| Item | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 | 2015 | 2020 | 2022 | 2026 | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eggs (dozen)Bird flu volatility$1.99 @ Kroger - ByPass - Riverside (Nov 2026) | $0.97 | $1.21 | $1.79 | $2.11 | $1.46 | $1.93 | $2.32 | +137.9% |
| Milk (gallon)$3.39 @ Kroger - ByPass - Riverside (Nov 2026) | $2.79 | $3.30 | $3.24 | $3.76 | $3.25 | $3.79 | $4.10 | +47.3% |
| Ground Beef (lb)$6.99 @ Kroger - ByPass - Riverside (Nov 2026) | $1.48 | $2.19 | $2.28 | $4.24 | $3.89 | $4.55 | $6.75 | +355.5% |
| Bread (loaf)$4.79 @ Kroger - ByPass - Riverside (Nov 2026) | $0.91 | $1.00 | $1.36 | $1.48 | $1.35 | $1.55 | $1.86 | +105.2% |
| Chicken Breast (lb)$4.00 @ Kroger - ByPass - Riverside (Nov 2026) | $1.06 | $1.03 | $1.26 | $1.55 | $1.41 | $1.62 | $2.03 | +91.3% |
| Butter (lb)$4.89 @ Kroger - ByPass - Riverside (Nov 2026) | — | — | — | — | $3.86 | $3.67 | $3.98 | -4.2% since 2018 |
| Bacon (lb)$5.72 @ Kroger - ByPass - Riverside (Nov 2026) | $2.75 | $3.37 | $3.63 | $5.59 | $5.50 | $7.22 | $6.69 | +143.1% |
| Cheddar Cheese (lb)$4.00 @ Kroger - ByPass - Riverside (Nov 2026) | $3.84 | $4.21 | $4.72 | $5.40 | $5.20 | $5.32 | $6.13 | +59.6% |
| Pasta (lb)$1.67 @ Kroger - ByPass - Riverside (Nov 2026) | $0.88 | $0.94 | $1.15 | $1.26 | $1.23 | $1.12 | $1.38 | +57.1% |
| Rice (5 lb)$4.72 @ Kroger - ByPass - Riverside (Nov 2026) | $2.50 | $2.98 | $3.77 | $3.46 | $3.58 | $4.16 | $5.50 | +120.6% |
| Coffee (12 oz)$9.19 @ Kroger - ByPass - Riverside (Nov 2026) | $2.65 | $2.29 | $2.86 | $3.55 | $3.13 | $3.85 | $6.94 | +161.3% |
| Orange Juice (64 oz)Citrus shortageLocal estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $3.72 | $5.42 | +45.7% since 2022 |
| Potatoes (5 lb)$3.79 @ Kroger - ByPass - Riverside (Nov 2026) | $1.96 | $2.29 | $2.81 | $3.34 | $4.01 | $3.96 | $4.95 | +152.6% |
| Apples (3 lb)Local estimate$3.99 @ Kroger - ByPass - Riverside (Nov 2026) | — | — | — | — | — | $4.49 | $5.20 | +15.8% since 2022 |
| Tomatoes (lb)$1.79 @ Kroger - ByPass - Riverside (Nov 2026) | $1.44 | $1.66 | $1.84 | $2.09 | $2.22 | $1.89 | $2.08 | +44.4% |
| Lettuce (head)$3.49 @ Kroger - ByPass - Riverside (Nov 2026) | $0.75 | $0.82 | $0.90 | $1.17 | $1.34 | — | $1.96 | +162.3% |
| Cooking Oil (48 oz)Local estimate$3.79 @ Kroger - ByPass - Riverside (Nov 2026) | — | — | — | — | — | $5.54 | $7.76 | +40.1% since 2022 |
| Yogurt (32 oz)Local estimate$5.99 @ Kroger - ByPass - Riverside (Nov 2026) | — | — | — | — | — | $4.15 | $4.94 | +19.0% since 2022 |
| Cereal (family size)Local estimate$5.00 @ Kroger - ByPass - Riverside (Nov 2026) | — | — | — | — | — | $4.79 | $6.20 | +29.4% since 2022 |
| Frozen PizzaLocal estimate$5.99 @ Kroger - ByPass - Riverside (Nov 2026) | — | — | — | — | — | $6.31 | $8.65 | +37.1% since 2022 |
Dining & Restaurants
Fast Food Meal
$12.79
Casual Dining
$23.88
Monthly Spend
$427.46
+5.41% YoYChain Restaurant Meal Prices — 2022 vs. Today
Combo meal / typical order for one
McDonald's
2022: $8.36
$13.49
+61.4%Wendy's
2022: $9.44
$14.57
+54.3%Chipotle
2022: $10.12
$15.11
+49.3%Starbucks
2022: $4.58
$6.36
+38.9%Eating out more? Save on groceries with Ibotta and cook at home more often.
Looking for an Apartment in Bowling Green?
Average 1BR: $996/mo · 2BR: $1,434/mo
Bowling Green Cost of Living FAQ
Is Bowling Green, KY expensive to live in?
Bowling Green has a cost of living index of 88, where 100 is the US average, so it is about 12% cheaper than average. It is the 5th most affordable of the 9 Kentucky cities we track.
What is the average rent in Bowling Green, KY?
Typical rent in Bowling Green is $1,215 a month for all home types as of September 2026, 37% below the national figure of $1,932. One bedroom units average about $996 and two bedrooms about $1,434. Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index for the metro area.
Is rent going up in Bowling Green?
Rent in Bowling Green rose 1.2% over the past year, slower than the 2.7% change nationally.
How much is gas in Bowling Green?
Regular unleaded costs about $3.72 a gallon in Bowling Green as of November 11, 2026, based on the AAA average for Kentucky. That is 7% below the national average of $3.98.
How much is electricity in Bowling Green?
Homes in Kentucky pay an average of 13.8 cents per kWh (EIA), versus 18.4 cents nationally. At 900 kWh a month, a typical bill in Bowling Green is about $124.
How much is car insurance in Bowling Green?
Full coverage car insurance averages $2,124 a year in Kentucky, or about $177 a month (Bankrate and NAIC state average), compared with $2,150 a year nationally.
How much do you need to live in Bowling Green?
Median household income in the Bowling Green area is $61,318 (Census ACS 2023, county level). Rent, gas, groceries, electricity and car insurance add up to about $25,927 a year, or 42% of that income. Groceries are counted at $5,502 a year, the average household spend on food at home in the region (BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey).
How does Bowling Green compare with the rest of Kentucky?
Rent in Bowling Green is about the same as the $1,223 average across the 9 Kentucky cities we track, and its cost of living index of 88 compares with a state average of 87.
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